Beating the 46,000 yen dealer quote! Saving money on tire replacement at Costco | I'm very satisfied with the cheap and good tires

I finally got my tires replaced! About a month ago, I was told my car's tires were looking rough, and I was shocked by how expensive the quote from the car dealer was. Below is the article I wrote previously.

So, I decided to try replacing my tires somewhere other than the dealer to see if I could get a better deal. Today, I'd like to summarize the results.

<PR>
Even if you don't have a Costco card, a Costco shopping service that buys items for you is convenient!
Although limited to the Kanto region, you can get what you want for "800 yen shipping + actual cost," which is a better deal than paying the 4,000 yen membership fee.

If you go to Costco less than four times a year, a Costco shopping service is more cost-effective.

A 46,000 yen tire replacement quote from the dealer arrived! I struggled to figure out how to make it cheaper and which option was the best deal.

The 46,000 yen quote was too expensive for me!So, I looked for a cheaper place. By the way, the market price for tires varies greatly depending on the inch size, aspect ratio, and material.

For common sizes (e.g., 14 or 15 inches) with a standard aspect ratio (60 or higher, where smaller means a thinner tire),you can purchase them for about 5,000 to 10,000 yen per tire.purchase them.

However, if the inches are larger and the aspect ratio is smaller,the price can reach 20,000 to 50,000 yen per tire.In other words,while there are tires you can replace for about 20,000 to 30,000 yen for four, there are also tires that cost around 200,000 yen.

Checking at Autobacs | You can replace tires 10,000 yen cheaper than at the dealer

To start with,AutobacsI checked at. It turned out I could get them replaced for about 36,000 yen.That means I can replace them 10,000 yen cheaper than at the dealer.If you are particular about low prices, it's easy to find options if you look!

TIREHOOD + Autobacs | 16,000 yen cheaper than the dealer

Autobacs was fine, but to make it even cheaper,TIREHOODthere was a method of purchasing tires at TIREHOOD and having them sent to Autobacs for replacement.I wonder if the two companies are partnered.

Alright, I'll change my tires at Costco

And what I decided on was a tire replacement at Costco.

Huh? For those of you wondering what all that was about until now, I'm sorry m(_ _)m

Actually, I had forgotten that I was a Costco member. I made a Costco card a few years ago, and since I hadn't renewed it, I thought I was done with it.

Then, recently, I realized it had been automatically renewed.I had been paying the annual fee for several years without going to Costco. (What a waste!)

So, I heard that Costco also has a good reputation for tire replacement, so I decided to give it a try. There's no verification or anything, is there? (Sweat).

That said, the results were quite good.

Costco tire quote: 2,000 yen cheaper than the dealer

First, the tire quote from Costco was 43,000 yen. That is about 3,000 yen cheaper than a dealer replacement. Just looking at this, one might think it's a step backward since the dealer handles everything without the hassle. No, that's not the case. There were even more benefits.

Costco tires are high-quality Michelins: Feeling like I saved 10,000 yen

The tires being replaced were Michelin tires. Michelin tires fall into the high-performance, luxury category. For example, in the case of the super-cheap Tirehood mentioned earlier, it was 14,520 yen for four tires. Looking at Michelin, you can see that they are about 1.5 times more expensive than standard tires.

If they are installing good tires at about the same price as the dealer, I think it's fair to say I saved about 10,000 yen.

Received a prepaid card after checking in: Saved 8,400 yen

After checking in for the tire replacement, I received an 8,400 yen prepaid card. This card can be used just like cash inside Costco. Combined with the 10,000 yen from earlier, I think I effectively saved about 20,000 yen compared to a dealer replacement.

Wow, this is even better than the 16,000 yen savings from the cheapest Tirehood + Autobacs option, and on top of that, the tires are an upgrade! I would say so!

There were 5 other benefits to replacing tires at Costco

Financially, I effectively saved 18,000 yen. Upon further investigation, there were even more benefits.

1. Michelin tires seem to have a lifespan about 1 year longer than other tires

I've had Michelin tires come as standard equipment when I bought a different car before. This is partly based on feeling, but Michelin tires seem to have a long lifespan. It is said that tires should generally be replaced every 4 to 5 years, but with Michelin, it seems like they could last 5 to 6 years.

Is the rubber harder? It is certainly less prone to cracking.

2. Rotation, replacement, and puncture repair labor are always free

When you replace tires at Costco, the labor for tire replacement, rotation, and puncture repair are all free. (You do need to visit Costco.)

Once, when I went to the dealer, I casually asked for a rotation, and I was charged about 3,000 yen after the work was done. (Since then, I've done rotations myself, haha)

It's great that these are free.

3. Nitrogen inflation is free (or rather, it's standard at Costco)

Tires are filled with air, but they fill them with nitrogen instead of air. Although 80% of air is nitrogen anyway. It's helpful because filling with nitrogen outside of Costco costs about 500 yen per tire.

There seem to be three benefits to 100% nitrogen inflation.
1. Prevents ignition

Since air contains oxygen, it can cause ignition if the tires get hot enough to burn. In that regard, nitrogen has no combustible elements, so it doesn't ignite apparently.

2. Less likely to leak

Air doesn't just leak from tires through the valve. It seems it can also pass through the rubber itself. Nitrogen seems to be harder to pass through than oxygen. I'm not sure how much actually passes through, though.

3. Longer lifespan

Tire rubber oxidizes and deteriorates due to moisture and oxygen. In that regard, since nitrogen lacks the oxidizing elements of oxygen, it seems likely to keep the rubber in good condition for longer.

4. You can secure a parking spot at the crowded Costco and shop at your leisure

Costco is one of the most popular supermarkets in Japan. Therefore, the parking lot is crowded, and it's a struggle to find a parking space. Even if you manage to find one, it might be in a location where you have to walk quite a bit.

In that regard, when you are getting your tires replaced, there is a space exclusively for tire replacement customers right next to the store. So, not only when getting them replaced, but if you book an appointment for tire air refilling or rotation when visiting the store, you can use a nearby parking spot without any trouble!

5. Gasoline is cheap

Costco is also famous for its cheap gasoline. As of September 2023, the national average is around 178 yen. In that regard, Costco's store average is probably around 162 yen.

It's about 16 yen cheaper. For example, if you fill up 30 liters, you can save 480 yen. That's enough of a difference to have a meal at Yoshinoya.

This means that if you go to Costco for shopping, refueling is definitely recommended!

Disadvantages of replacing tires at Costco: Introduced in detail in another article

I've only written about the benefits of Costco, but there are also disadvantages. I would like to write about that in the next article.

The hint is that Costco is a membership-based store. The membership fee is definitely being paid.
I had forgotten about that for a few years. There is the question of whether it's worth it in the first place...

Postscript: I wrote an article about the disadvantages of tire replacement at Costco.

Costco tire replacement (for standard cars)

I also had the tires replaced on my second car at Costco. I've written about the highlights of Costco as well as a comparison with light cars, so please take a look if you'd like.

When replacing car tires, try choosing with the post-replacement experience in mind

Today, I felt the tire replacement fee at the dealer was way too high, so I decided to try replacing them at Costco for better value and savings.

As a Costco member, there were benefits like being able to install high-quality tires at a low price and making shopping easier.

If you have a car and live near a Costco, it might be worth giving it a try.

I've also compiled a guide on how to know when to replace your tires. Please feel free to check it out.

There is also a service for those who aren't Costco members but want to order Costco products

For those who don't have a Costco nearby and can't go, there is a service that can purchase items on your behalf. If you are interested, please check the link below.

<PR> "Husky Cart's Costco Shopping Proxy Service" is a service that will buy Costco products for you even if you aren't a Costco member.

*The service area is limited to the Kanto region, but it costs 800 yen including shipping. You can have your Costco shopping done for you while staying at home. If you go to Costco four times a year or less, it's more economical than paying the 4,000 yen annual membership fee.

#3LineDiary : Children have no reservations | The youth we had forgotten

Parents can control outings with small children, but the energy of children who are between childhood and adulthood, like teenagers, is incredible. Adults tend to be the ones being controlled. That's what I thought yesterday.

Thank you for reading until the end today!